In this article, we discuss cabinet mission plan 1946 and its merits and demerits that are useful for various competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, etc...
In July 1945, the government in Britain had changed. The Conservative government of Winston Churchill was gone and the Labour Party government of Clement Attlee had come.
The new prime minister was Clement Attlee and in September 1945, world war II also ended. With the end of the World War, the British government could now focus on India.
The new prime minister, Clement Attlee, wanted to transfer power to the Indian leadership as soon as possible.
With this objective, Prime Minister Clement Attlee sent a group of 3 people to India. These 3 people were Sir Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A V Alexander.
Because these 3 people were cabinet ministers in the Parliament of Britain, hence this mission was named Cabinet Mission.
Sir Pethick Lawrence was the secretary of the state of India at that time. Stafford Cripps was the Board of Trade and A V Alexander was the First Lord of Admiralty.
This mission reached India on March 24, 1946. The objective of this mission was to establish a constituent assembly to frame the constitution of an independent India and simultaneously establish an interim government.
By reaching India, these three people made a lot of discussions with the Congress and the Muslim League to end the political deadlock.
The political deadlock was because Muslim League wanted a separate state for Muslims and Congress should not be a partition of United India in any case.
The Cabinet Mission made a lot of efforts that there should be an agreement between the Muslim League and the Congress and this political deadlock should end.
The Cabinet Mission continued to discuss with political parties for 3 consecutive weeks to end the political deadlock but no compromise could be reached.
Therefore the Cabinet Mission gave its proposal on 16 May 1946.
The Cabinet Mission talked about the creation of an undivided India, which means, the demand of the Muslims to create a separate Pakistan was completely rejected.
The cabinet mission had also restricted the separate electorate. The cabinet mission gave the following recommendations -
1. Provincial Grouping:
The Cabinet Mission had proposed that the Indian Union would be divided into three groups or sections i.e. Section A, Section B, and Section C.
Section A consists of Madras, United Province, Central Province, Bombay, Bihar, and Orissa. Section B consists of Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier Province, and Baluchistan. Section C consists of Assam and Bengal.
Here Section was Hindu Majority Areas and Section B and Section C are Muslime Majority Areas.
According to the cabinet mission, all the provinces will make their own constitution. After that, each province together will make the constitution of its section or group and all the groups together will form the constitution of the union.
The Cabinet Mission had prepared a unique kind of federation where there was a separate constitution of the province, union, and group.
The Union Government was given very little power and could deal only with finance, foreign affairs, and communication.
All other subjects and residuary power were given to the provinces. This meant that the cabinet mission had proposed a weak center and given all the powers to the provinces.
It was also said in this that if a province wants to change its group after 5 years, it can change it. After 10 years, any province can also demand to change the constitution of the group or union.
2. Princely States:
The princely states will have all the subjects and residuary powers. The Princely States have also been independent from the British Empire.
If she wants, she can join the Indian Union or can sign an agreement with the British Government.
3. Constituent Assembly:
The members of the Constituent Assembly shall be elected from the provincial assemblies of all the provinces and from the princely states.
Some seats will be allotted to each of the provinces in proportion to their population.
In this way, 293 members will be elected from the Provincial Assembly in the Constituent Assembly and 93 members will be elected from the Princely states.
This Constituent Assembly together will form the constitution of the union and will later form the Interim Government.
Here, Jinha was happy to hear the cabinet mission plan because Jinha was seeing a bigger Pakistan being formed here than before.
Jinha's plan was to separate section B and section C areas from India using the 5 year and 10 year provisions because they are Muslim majority areas.
Therefore, on 10 June 1946, the Muslim League gave its acceptance to the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Congress said that there is a Congress government in Assam and North West Frontier Province, In such situation, all the provinces should allow whether they should join the group or not. This means the groups that have been created should not be compulsory.
Jinha did not like tinkering with provisions. The Cabinet Mission gave its decision in favor of Congress.
The Muslim League got angry with this and refused to accept the cabinet mission.
Congress also refused to accept the cabinet mission because the cabinet mission had proposed a very weak center and has no authority except Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Communication.
But later the Congress thought that the Cabinet Mission is the best proposal ever and the best thing is that India will remain United and there is no talk of a separate electorate here.
Therefore, in August 1946, Congress gave its approval to the Cabinet Mission and with it, the preparations for the formation of the Interim Government also started.
Merits and Demerits of Cabinet Mission Plan 1946:
Merits:
1. All the representatives in the constituent assembly were to be Indians.
2. Interim Government to be set up according to the plan was to have complete autonomy in running the administration.
3. Muslim League demand also met in the form of Grouping Formula.
Demerits:
1. Cabinet Mission proposed a very weak center with the only authority of finance, external affairs, and communication.
2. The provinces were divided into groups on the basis of religion and each group was allowed to have its own constitution.
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